William Chavalas News Today

"The Pacific Garden Mall opened in 1969 as a National Trust Downtown Historic District, with umbrella protections for its landmarks," writes columnist Ross Eric Gibson. "Yet it appears Santa Cruz didn't know how to use these protections, as the Cooper Street courthouse almost became a parking lot, until Max Walden bought it in 1972, creating the Cooper House."

"In 1916, Santa Cruz was worried about the proliferation of nickelodeons in the downtown," writes columnist Ross Eric Gibson. "Nitrate film stock tended to ignite, so nickelodeons needed a metal-lined projector room and fire suppression tools, to prevent burning the cinema or the town."